Aid for lettering labels



Jan. 10, 1961 T. L. BELCHER AID FOR LETTERING LABELS Filed Aug. 17, 1959 F i g. 3

INVENTOR 29 Thomas L. Belcher Unit d S te mfi 1 I 2,967,374 AID FOR LETTERING LABELS Thomas L. llelcher, Veterans Home, Napa County, Calif.

Filed Aug. 17, 1959, Ser. N0. 834,186

1 "Claim. (Cl. 45-131) The present invention aims to facilitate the cumbersome task of manually lettering labels, such as are used on jars, bottles, or drawers to indicate the contents thereof, or on envelopes and packages to state an address or destination.

It is an object of my invention to provide a device upon which loose labels of different sizes may safely be held in a stationary condition while the labels are lettered manually.

More particularly, it is an object of my invention to provide a device, of the type indicated, to which the labels may readily be applied and from which they may readily be removed upon completion of the lettering operation.

Yet another object of my invention is to provide a device, of the type referred to, that serves as a base upon which the labels may be placed for lettering, which holds them in a stationary position during the lettering operation, and which also serves as a guide to facilitate the actual lettering operation.

Furthermore, it is an object of my invention to provide a device of the type referred to, that is easy to handle and of simple and inexpensive construction.

These and other objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following description of the accompanying drawing which illustrates a preferred embodiment thereof and wherein Figure l is a plan view of the lettering aid of my invention showing a label held thereon in the proper position for providing an inscription thereon;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary side elevation of the device shown in Figure 1; and

Figure 3 is a fragmentary rear elevation of the device.

The device of the invention comprises a rectangular board or tablet which may be made of wood, metal, glass or plastic. Provided across the front surface of the tablet is a plurality of horizontally disposed, vertically spaced strips or ledges 12 which may be made of the same material as the tablet and may be glued or bolted to the tablet or form an integral part thereof. The vertical distances between consecutively lower ledges are arranged to increase so that the compartments 14, 16 and 18 formed between the consecutive ledges are of different vertical depth adapted to receive and support labels of different sizes. Provided on the front surface of the tablet intermediately of the ledges 12 are horizontal and vertical, or horizontal and steeply slanted guide lines 20 which show through the translucent paper of the labels, as shown at 22 in Figure 1, when the labels are placed upon the tablet in the compartments 14, 16 and 18 thereof. The guide lines make it easier for the draftsman to make the letters of any inscription of equal size and/or to write in a straight line.

In the event that the tablet is made of a white or translucent material, such as Lucite, the rules 20 may be provided in black upon the front surface of the tablet, but if the tablet is made of a dark material, such as wood or metal, I prefer to establish a white base or ground for 2 the guide lines, such as a coat of white paint or a sheet of white paper, as indicated at 24 in Figures '1 and 2, upon which the rule lines are marked in black. 7

,To hold the labels dependably in a stationary condition during the lettering operation, I provide, in addition to the bordering ledges 12 against whose inner edges the horizontal edges of the labels will bear, a pair of endtess elastic bands, such as rubber bands or endless coil springs- 26 and 28, that are trained in a tensioned condition around the tablets in the region of each compartment adjacent the bordering ledges thereof. To retain these bands in their proper positions horizontally aligned notches 30a and 30b are provided in the side edges of the tablet 10 for each such hand. To make it possible to place the tablet fiat on a table or drawing board in spite of the presence of these bands, horizontal grooves 32 are provided in the rear surface of the tablet, that extend from the notches 30a to the notches 30b. The rear runs of the bands 26 and 28 are received within these grooves as illustrated in Figures 2 and 3.

In using the device of my invention in practice, I select the proper compartment for the label to be inserted, iii. the compartment corresponding in size to the label, and I lift the bands 26 and 28 a limited distance from the front surface of the tablet and push the horizontal edges of the label against the edges of the bordering ledges of the compartment. I then release the elastic bands so that they may return to their initial position and hold the label dependably in place. The label may now be lettered without danger that the label may slip, and the guide lines 20 showing through the translucent paper of the label will aid the draftsman in providing uniform lettering on the label. In the process of lettering the label the tablet surface below the compartment in which the label is held, serves as a rest for the draftsmans hand as he prints the letters upon the label. It is, therefore, important that a blank area be left below the lowest ledge 12 of the tablet as indicated at 34 in Figure 1, so that the draftsman may have a rest for his hand when the label upon which he works, is located in the lowest compartment 18. When the lettering on a label is completed, it is a simple matter to withdraw the label. It is merely necessary to lift the front runs of the elastic bands 26 and 28 a certain distance from the tablet and withdraw the label, whereupon the bands may be released.

The device of my invention is of the simplest construction, it is easy to manipulate to insert a label into its proper compartment, or to withdraw it therefrom upon completion of a lettering operation. The device of the invention makes it extremely easy to letter labels because it holds the labels safely in a stationary position, and provides guide lines for the letters to be inscribed and a rest for the draftsmans hand. It is very inexpensive, and if any of the elastic bands should wear out and lose their ability to hold the labels in place, they may easily be replaced without need to nail or otherwise secure them into place.

While I have explained my invention with the aid of an exemplary embodiment thereof, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific constructional details shownand described by way of example, which may be departed from without departing from the scope and spirit of my invention.

I claim:

An aid for lettering labels comprising a tablet having a flat front surface, a rear surface, a top edge, a bottom edge and two side edges, a plurality of horizontally disposed parallel ledges extending across the front surface of said tablet and spaced different vertical distances apart from a level adjacent the top edge of said tablet to a level a distance above the bottom edge thereof to define Patented Jan. 10, 1961 T between themselves a plurality of compartmentsof dif-- ferent depth adapted to receive and support labels of different sizes while leaving a blank area between the lowest ledge and the bottom edge of said tablet adapted to serve as a rest for a hand when in the process of lettering a label held in one of said compartments, said tablet having aligned notches in its side edges at points opposite said compartments and adjacent the bordering ledges thereof and connecting grooves provided in the rear surface thereof between the aligned notches in its side edges, and endless elastic bands trained in tensioned condition around said tablet in engagement with aligned notches of its side edges and the connecting grooves in its rear surface.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,628,347 Yenofkian May 10, 1927 2,242,737 Alfreds May 20, 1941 2,553,705 Reyes May 22, 1951 2,815,600 Caudle Dec. 10, 1957 2,872,215 Taylor Feb. 3, 1959 

